Mudhsuden Singh Panesar, affectionately known throughout the game as Monty, quickly established himself as a national hero after bursting on to the scene with England in 2006. With his black patka, wide eyes and eager (if a touch hapless) fielding, he rapidly became a fan favourite.

After years of limited and negative England spinners, Panesar was a revelation. His languid action deeply excited England supporters and even on the occasions when sharp turn was not forthcoming that was belied by an effervescence apparent in his cherubic and unconfined celebrations at the fall of each and every wicket. Like a lamb let loose from the paddock, he cut a joyful figure.

For a time, he was considered the saviour of English spin bowling, but that position was usurped by the emergence of his old Northants colleague Graeme Swann, who had greater command of spin and dip on flat surfaces and who also had a shrewdness about him which Panesar occasionally seemed to lack. They combined in spectacular fashion, however, in Mumbai in November 2012, dubbed the "dust devils" as they returned joint figures of 19 for 323, in one of the greatest England spin double acts in history, only the fourth occasion that England spinners had combined to take 19 wickets or more wickets in a Test and the first time for 54 years.

When Swann retired midway through England's Ashes debacle in 2013-14, debilitated by elbow trouble, Panesar should have been ready to step in. But his career was by then in question. He left Sussex under a cloud in 2013 after urinating from on high upon a nightclub bouncer in the early hours of the morning, and his behaviour on long tours had its eccentric moments. He joined Essex, with his many fans hoping that it would revive a faltering career, but despite respectable returns in his first full season at Chelmsford the rise of Moeen Ali looked to have consigned his England days to the past.

A Luton lad by birth he progressed through Northamptonshire's youth teams and was picked for England Under-19s in 2000. He marked his first-class debut a year later against Leicestershire with a match haul of 8 for 131. Opportunities thereafter were limited but a fine 2005 season kick-started his career. He took 46 Championship wickets at 21.54, and spent part of the winter at the Darren Lehmann Academy in Adelaide. That was enough for Panesar to be picked for England's 2006 tour of India in February. He made his Test debut at Nagpur picking up his boyhood hero, Sachin Tendulkar, as his first Test wicket and Rahul Dravid as his third.

The following summer, against Pakistan, Panesar attracted national headlines, even beyond the game, by spinning England to a series win. At Old Trafford he made the most of a helpful surface with eight wickets then, at Headingley, he was England's best bowler on a run-filled strip. The loop, guile and changes of pace outfoxed Pakistan's top-order, including Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan.

In a matter of months he had elevated himself to the position of England's senior spinner, pushing aside Ashley Giles. Yet Duncan Fletcher - ever the loyalist, rarely the risk-taker - preferred a rusty Giles for the first two Tests of the 2006-07 Ashes. England were thrashed in both but Monty got a chance in the third at Perth, becoming the first English spinner to take five at the WACA (and eight in the match). As England crashed to a humiliating 5-0 defeat, Panesar was one of the precious few to return home with their reputation intact.

He started the 2007 summer with 23 wickets in four Tests against West Indies, which brought a career-high No. 6 ranking, but things began to go awry thereafter. He struggled in the following home series against India, and away in Sri Lanka, where he lost his confidence and misunderstood mutterings began about his lack of variety. Though he fared well in New Zealand a tough 2008 summer, where Graeme Smith swept him to distraction in South Africa's series-clinching win in Edgbaston, blunted his cheerful persona.

He was comprehensively outperformed by a resurgent Swann during his return to India in December 2008, and again in the Caribbean, where he lost his position as England's No. 1 spinner. The bowling lacked spark but more significantly, so did the man. Lost in a confusion of 'expert' opinion around him, he lost faith in his method. That trend continued in the first Test of the 2009 Ashes at Cardiff, where he and Swann both underperformed with the ball, claiming one wicket between them. However, by batting through to the close in a remarkable tenth-wicket stand with James Anderson, Panesar reaffirmed his cult status. That was as good as the summer got for him though as his bowling form slumped and he lost his central contract.

By the end of 2009 the future of Panesar's international career looked doubtful but he took control by leaving his life-long county Northamptonshire and moving to Sussex. Trusted to set his fields and take a senior role in the dressing room he rediscovered his vim. A strong 2010 season saw a return to the England squad for the Ashes win. On the 2012 winter tour to UAE he finally got his chance for England again, picking up 14 wickets at 22 from his two Tests against Pakistan, but opportunities continued to be sporadic.ESPNcricinfo staff

Influenced by his father's involvement with Luton Indians Cricket Club, plays cricket for the first time aged 10. Is spotted two years later by Paul Taylor, the former Northamptonshire and England seamer. Is bowling "horrible little left-arm seamers [which] didn't seam or swing" for Bedfordshire, but is passing time in practice bowling spinners and "turning it miles".

1998 First time for Second XI

Plays his first Second XI match for Northamptonshire, and impresses his coach Nick Cook with the pace at which he bowls, while also gaining dip and turn.

At 17, is named one of the Millenium Kids by the Sun newspaper - five "hungry" teenagers desperate to succeed in sport. Says he wants to be world's best spinner.

August 28, 2001 Match-winner on debut

Makes his first-class debut for Northamptonshire against Leicestershire at Northampton. Picks up 4 for 120 in 35 overs in the first innings, facing the daunting prospect of Shahid Afridi. Improves on that with a match-winning 4 for 11 from 20 overs in the second.

2001-2005 Ponder years

Struggles to match his excellent performance on debut while combining cricket with studying for a computer science degree at Loughborough University. But in 2005, takes 16 wickets in two matches on late-summer dusty pitches, ending with 46 wickets in just eight games.

In the Nagpur Test, becomes the first Sikh to represent England in Tests. On the third day, traps his hero Sachin Tendulkar for his first wicket, in a marathon spell of 2 for 73 from 42 overs. Impresses with his attacking line, dip and spin.

Tops the Test averages with 10 wickets at 21.00 in England's three-Test series against Sri Lanka at home. And though taken to the public's hearts, doubts remain over his fielding and batting. Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, admits he "is under a lot of pressure" to improve the other two facets of his game.

July 27, 2006 One trick is good enough

Despite Fletcher's reticence about his batting and fielding, is chosen ahead of Jamie Dalrymple for the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford. After his supporting act of 3 for 21 in the first innings, he destroys Pakistan with 5 for 72 in the second - including the scalps of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan.

August, 2006 Spinning it to win it

On a lifeless Headingley pitch on which Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan legspinner, could only manage 2 for 111, Panesar wheeled away for 47.4 overs and repeatedly tested Pakistan's famed batting lineup. Three for 39 in their second innings sealed their fate, and Fletcher's continued caution over his inclusion begins to irk the media, many of whom announce that he is now England's leading spinner.

Is termed England's "second spinner" by Fletcher, but receives encouragement from his captain, Michael Vaughan, who feels he will be a threat in the World Cup.

Is named one of the Wisden Forty, and is chosen as one of the Five Cricketers of the Year in 2007's Wisden Cricketers' Almanack

May, 2007 Doing HQ, and then some

Becomes the first spinner since Bishan Bedi to take six first-innings wickets at Lord's, in the first Test against West Indies. Five of the six were lbws - the first time a spinner has achieved the feat.

Steve Harmison tears into Pakistan with 6 for 19 in their first innings, though ably supported by Panesar who removes the limpit-like Mohammad Yousuf on course for 3 for 21. England respond powerfully with 461 before Panesar blitzes Pakistan in their second innings, removing Imran Farfat and the Big Three: Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq en route to 5 for 72.

3 for 127 and 3 for 39 v Pakistan, Headingley, 2006

England compile 515 thanks to a sublime 135 from Kevin Pietersen, but Pakistan respond with 538. Mohammad Yousuf's gluttonous run continues with 192, while Younis Khan cracks 173. Panesar concedes 2.66 per over in his marathon 47.4 overs, picking up 3 for 127. England falter in their second dig, but set Pakistan 323 to win; Monty adds three more wickets, including Inzamam-ul-Haq, and memorably Younis Khan with the ball of the summer. Younis prod forward on the front foot, but the ball spat out of the rough on middle and leg, clipping his off-bail.

5 for 92 and 3 for 145 v Australia, Perth, 2006-07

Panesar is discarded, but not forgotten, in the first two Ashes Tests where Giles is preferred to him. Introduced at Perth, under enormous pressure, he out-bowls his England team-mates to record 5 for 92, causing everyone to ask just why he was previously excluded. Panesar takes his first Ashes wicket with only his seventh ball, bowling Justin Langer through the gate. Adam Gilchrist is next, padding up, but he gets a thin edge to short-leg. Andrew Symonds fails to pick up the line; Shane Warne nicks one to the wicketkeeper; Brett Lee is trapped in front, beaten by the flight, and all eyes are on Duncan Fletcher.

Why was it that Australia put in such a hazy performance in a match that mattered so much? Of the two teams they are the more experienced, the more used to winning and entering this week the more confident

Australia's selectors and management have been accused of being too harsh on Brad Haddin but the team's horrible display at Edgbaston suggests that they may actually have been too lenient, and not just on him

Australia's selectors and management have been accused of being too harsh on Brad Haddin but the team's horrible display at Edgbaston suggests that they may actually have been too lenient, and not just on him

Why was it that Australia put in such a hazy performance in a match that mattered so much? Of the two teams they are the more experienced, the more used to winning and entering this week the more confident

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